Electrical connector with mating assist system

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical connector with a mating assist system. The invention relates to an electrical connector having: a mating assist system comprising a user-actuatable member (20) that slides along an operating direction (OD) between a rear position and a front position; a first rack section (25) and a second rack section extending parallel to the operating direction (OD); and a first rotatable cam member (30) and a second rotatable cam member (30), the first and second rotatable cam members comprising cam grooves (31) for receiving respective mounting pins (10) protruding from the mating electrical connector (2). When the user-actuatable member (20) is actuated from a rear position toward a front position thereof, each rotatable cam member (30) engages a respective rack section (25), and the first cam member (30) and the second cam member (30) rotate in opposite directions.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the Chinese patent application with application number 202110323193.4, application date March 26, 2021, and invention name “Electrical connector with mating auxiliary system”. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to a system for mating two electrical connectors with each other. Background Art

[0003] It is known to use mating assistance systems on electrical connectors, in particular when such connectors are used in automotive applications, and especially where a large number of input / output (I / O) connections are required per connector or where terminals of large cross-section are required for high power connections. An example of a connector with a mating assistance system is disclosed in patent application EP1929588A2.

[0004] The electrical connector includes:

[0005] - electrical terminals;

[0006] - a housing in which the electrical terminals are accommodated; and

[0007] - a mating assistance system for assisting the mating of the electrical connector to a mating electrical connector, the mating assistance system comprising:

[0008] a user-actuatable member longitudinally slidably mounted on the housing for sliding along an operating direction between a rearward position and a forward position, the user-actuatable member comprising a rack section extending parallel to the operating direction;

[0009] A cam member is rotatably mounted to the housing, the cam member including a cam groove for receiving a mounting pin extending from one side of the mating electrical connector, the cam member having a gear section with teeth, the teeth engaging the rack section, and when the user-actuatable member is actuated from the rear position to the front position, the engagement of the teeth with the rack section causes the cam member to rotate in a rotational direction.

[0010] When a large number of wires or cables are connected to the terminals and / or when cables with a large cross-section are connected to the terminals, the cable harness becomes quite rigid. In addition, the cables may be short and / or sometimes there is not much space around the connector and the mating connector. Then the bending of the cable may be difficult, and therefore, it may be difficult to find the proper alignment of the connector and the mating connector along the mating direction.

[0011] In addition, if Figure 8Schematically shown, in order to facilitate the mating of the connector 1 with the mating connector 2, a small gap exists between their housings. With the prior art connectors, the engagement of the cam member 30 mounted on the connector 1 with the mounting pin 10 extending from the mating connector 2 results in a force being generated on only one side of the connectors 1, 2, which causes the connector 1 to swing and tilt relative to the mating connector 2 (see arrow T). As a result, not only is the mating of the connectors 1, 2 less easy (caused by the high forces generated by the misalignment of the connectors during the mating phase), but also the reliability and quality of the electrical contact between the terminals and possibly the reliability of the sealing arrangement are not optimized due to the fact that the connector 1 and the mating connector 2 may not be well aligned. Similarly, when the electrical connector 1 and the mating connector 2 are EMI shielded, the shielding continuity is also degraded.

[0012] An object of the present disclosure is to propose a connector and / or connector assembly which at least partially alleviates the problems encountered with prior art connectors. Summary of the invention

[0013] According to one embodiment, an electrical connector is provided, comprising:

[0014] Electrical terminals;

[0015] a housing in which the electrical terminals are accommodated; and

[0016] A mating assistance system, the mating assistance system is used to assist the electrical connector to mate with a mating electrical connector, the mating assistance system comprising:

[0017] - a user-actuatable member longitudinally slidably mounted on the housing so as to slide between a rear position and a forward position in an operating direction;

[0018] - a first rack section, which extends parallel to the operating direction;

[0019] a first rotatable cam member, the first rotatable cam member including a cam groove for receiving a first mounting pin extending from a first side of the mating electrical connector, the first cam member having a first gear section, the first gear section having teeth engaging the first rack section, the engagement of the teeth with the first rack section causing the first cam member to rotate in a first rotational direction when the user-actuatable member is actuated from the rear position to the forward position,

[0020] in,

[0021] The coordination assistance system further comprises:

[0022] - a second rack section, which extends parallel to the first rack section;

[0023] -A second rotatable cam member, the second rotatable cam member including a cam groove for receiving a second mounting pin extending from a second side of the mating electrical connector, the second side being opposite to the first side of the mating electrical connector, the second cam member having a second gear section, the second gear section having teeth engaging the second gear section, the engagement of the teeth of the second gear section with the second gear section causing the second cam member to rotate in a second rotational direction when the user-actuable member is actuated from the rear position to the front position, the first rotational direction being opposite to the second rotational direction when the first cam member and the second cam member are observed from the same side of the connector.

[0024] Due to the engagement of the cam members and the mounting pins symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of the connector, the mating force that pulls the connectors toward and into each other is the same on both opposite sides. In addition, due to the opposite rotational directions of the cam members, the torque applied to one face of the housing is balanced by the torque applied to the opposite face. Thus, any possible swinging and tilting of the connector relative to the mating connector is eliminated. Thus, the connector and the mating connector slide into each other in parallel directions, respectively.

[0025] Other features of the connector are mentioned in the dependent claims, these features being considered separate from one another or each being considered in combination with one or several other features.

[0026] According to another embodiment, an electrical connector assembly is provided. The electrical connector assembly includes the above connector and a mating connector, wherein the first mounting pin and the second mounting pin are respectively arranged on opposite outer surfaces of a housing of the mating connector.

[0027] According to yet another embodiment, an electrical connector assembly is provided, wherein the first mounting pin and the second mounting pin protrude in opposite directions along the same axis. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The foregoing aspects and other features of the present disclosure are explained in the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0029] Figure 1 is a perspective view of two electrical connectors used to form an electrical connector assembly, the two electrical connectors mating;

[0030] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of two electrical connectors of the connector assembly shown, the two electrical connectors being unmated;

[0031] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 and Figure 2 a perspective view of a user-actuatable member used in the connector assembly shown;

[0032] Figure 4 When Figure 1 and Figure 2 a schematic diagram of the rack section and cam member of the connector assembly with the user-actuatable member shown in a rear position;

[0033] Figure 5 When Figure 1 and Figure 2 a schematic diagram of the rack section and cam member of the connector assembly with the user-actuatable member shown in a forward position;

[0034] Figure 6 When Figure 1 and Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the rack segment and cam member of the connector assembly with the user-actuatable member shown in a forward position; and the locking device is in a locked position;

[0035] Figure 7 When Figure 1 and Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the rack segment and cam member of the connector assembly when the user-actuatable member is in the forward position, the rack segment and cam member are arranged between the connector and the Figures 4 to 6 The rack segment and cam member are shown arranged on faces opposite to the faces on which they are arranged;

[0036] Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the swinging motion of a prior art connector. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] An example of a connector assembly 100 is shown in FIG. Figure 1 and Figure 2 The connector assembly 100 includes a connector 1 and a mating connector 2 or a counterpart connector. The connector 1 and the mating connector 2 are used to transmit current having a strength ranging from 250 amps to 600 amps, for example. Figure 1 In FIG. 1 , the connector 1 and the mating connector 2 are mated, and the user-actuable member 20 is in the forward position. Figure 2 , the connector 1 and the mating connector 2 are not mated and the user-actuable member 20 is in the rear position.

[0038] The mating connector 2 is, for example, a male connector having a dielectric housing 3 that accommodates two male power terminals 4 extending longitudinally parallel to the operating or mating direction OD. Each terminal 4 has a linking end 5 for connecting to a busbar or cable. Each terminal 4 also has a connecting end (not shown) that is used to mate with a female power terminal (not shown) housed in the housing 11 of the connector 1. The mating connector 2 also includes an interlocking terminal (not shown) electrically linked to a signal line 6.

[0039] The housing 3 accommodates each of the male power terminals 4 in a separate cavity 7. The housing 3 includes a flange 8 for mounting the mating connector 2 on a wall, a box or any other device. The housing 3 includes a wall 9 extending in the operating direction OD, which is perpendicular to the flange 8. For example, each wall 9 has a generally tubular shape. The housing 3 includes two mounting pins 10. For example, each mounting pin 10 extends radially from the wall 9 perpendicular to the operating direction OD. The two mounting pins 10 are aligned with each other, for example, on the same axis PD, and protrude from the housing 3 in opposite directions along the same axis PD. A shielding and sealing device (not shown) is mounted to the mating connector 2.

[0040] The connector 1 comprises a housing 11, a user-actuatable member 20 (or a slider), two cam members 30 and two female power terminals (not shown) housed in the housing 11. The female power terminals are electrically linked to a cable (not shown) having a cross-section ranging, for example, between 35 and 95 square millimeters (and possibly even higher). Shielding and sealing means are mounted to the connector 1. The housing 11, the user-actuatable member 20 and the two cam members 30 are made of dielectric material. The two cam members 30 are identical. This reduces the number of different parts to be manufactured and managed. They can be manufactured in the same mold cavity.

[0041] like Figure 3As shown, the user-actuated member 20 has four walls 21, 22, 23, 24, each wall extending substantially in a plane parallel to the longitudinal center axis CA. The center axis CA is parallel to the operating direction OD. The four walls 21, 22, 23, 24 include an upper wall 21, a lower wall 22 and two side walls 23, 24. These four walls 21, 22, 23, 24 define a substantially rectangular cross section. Each of the four walls 21, 22, 23, 24 has an inner surface 21A, 22A, 23A, 24A. Two adjacent walls selected from the four walls 21, 22, 23, 24 are perpendicular to each other and define a corner. The first rack section 25 is located at the corner between the lower wall 22 and the side wall 23. The second rack section 26 is located in the opposite corner, which is located between the upper wall 21 and the other side wall 24. In other words, the first rack section 25 and the second rack section 26 are respectively located on the inner surface of the user-actuatable member 20 and are arranged substantially symmetrically about the longitudinal center axis CA. The first rack section 25 has teeth 27 extending parallel to the side walls 23, 24 in the direction from the lower wall 22 to the upper wall 21. The second rack section 26 has teeth 27 extending parallel to the side walls 23, 24 in the direction from the upper wall 21 to the lower wall 22.

[0042] The user-actuatable member 20 forms a slide which is guided along the operating direction OD, wherein the track 28 slidably engages in a mating track 29 protruding on the outer surface of the housing 11 (see FIG. 2 ). Figure 2 ). The user actuatable member 20 is slidably mounted to the housing 11 with its upper wall 21, lower wall 22 and side walls 23, 24 surrounding an outer surface 12 of the housing 11 parallel to the operating direction OD.

[0043] Each cam member 30 is rotatably mounted to the outer side surface 12 of the housing between the outer side surface 12 and the inner surface 23A or 24A of the side wall 23 or 24 of the user-actuatable member 20. Figure 4 As shown, each cam member 30 rotates about a fulcrum 13 extending outwardly from an outer side surface 12 facing the side wall 23 or 24. Each cam member 30 has a curved cam groove 31 opening on an inlet 32. The cam groove 31 receives the mounting pin 10 extending from the side of the mating electrical connector 2. The cam member 30 has a gear section 33 having teeth 34 that engage with the teeth 27 of the corresponding rack section 25 or 26.

[0044] When the connector 1 is guided toward the mating connector 2, the connector 1 and the mating connector 2 are oriented relative to each other so that each mounting pin 10 faces the corresponding cam member inlet 32. Advantageously, the user holds the connector 1 by means of the user-actuatable member 20 in its rear position. When the connector 1 and the mating connector 2 are moved further toward each other, each mounting pin 10 enters the cam slot 31. When each mounting pin 10 abuts against the stop surface 35 of the cam slot 31, there is resistance when the respective housings of the connector and the mating connector move toward each other. Then, if the user-actuatable member 20 is pushed from its rear position toward its front position, the first rack section 25 and the second rack section 26 engage the teeth 34 of the first cam member and the second cam member 30, respectively. As a result, each cam member 30 rotates and the mounting pins 10 are pushed and guided in their respective cam slots 31.

[0045] like Figure 5 As shown, each mounting pin 10 abuts against the end of a cam slot 31 when the user-actuatable member 20 is in its forward position.

[0046] The locking device 40 is slidably mounted between an unlocked position and a locked position along a locking direction parallel to the operating direction.

[0047] In the forward position of the user-actuatable member 20, the locking device 40 can be pushed from its unlocked position to its locked position in which it engages at least one of the rotatable cam members 30. The rotation of the at least one rotatable cam member 30 is then blocked by the locking device 40, so that the rotatable cam member 30 can no longer rotate. The user-actuatable member 20 is also locked.

[0048] The cam members 30 are identical. Thus, the cam slots 31 are oriented in opposite directions (clockwise for one of the cam members and counterclockwise for the other cam member) when viewed from the same direction. Figure 6 The cam member 30 shown is Figure 7 The cam member 30 is shown from the same direction. In other words, Figure 6 and Figure 7 The cross-sections are viewed from the same side of the connector 1. Each cam member 30 is mounted on the corresponding outer surface 12 so that the teeth 34 of the first cam member 30 engage the teeth 27 of the first rack section 25 adjacent the lower wall 22, and the teeth 34 of the second cam member 30 engage the teeth 27 of the second rack section 26 adjacent the upper wall 21.

[0049] like Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, when the user-actuatable member 20 is pushed from its rearward position to its forward position, the cam member 30 rotates counterclockwise (see FIG. Figure 6The other cam member 30 rotates clockwise (see arrow ACW in FIG. Figure 7 1 and 2). Therefore, the torques acting between each side surface 12 and the corresponding mounting pin 10 are opposite to each other. These torques balance each other so that the connector 1 and the mating connector 2 can slide along the mating direction (parallel to the operating direction OD) without swinging or tilting relative to each other. The connector 1 and the mating connector 2 remain well aligned, the mating force is not increased, the electrical contact between the terminal and the shielding element is optimized, the risk of seal extrusion is reduced, etc.

[0050] Furthermore, due to the dual mating assist system (cam member 30 / mounting pin 10 ), the robustness of the connector assembly 100 is increased.

[0051] Many variations of the above described embodiments are contemplated. The connector assembly 100 may be provided with or without EMI shielding, and / or with or without sealing means.

[0052] The cam member 30 may be mounted on the user-actuatable member 20 , and the rack sections 25 , 26 may be mounted on the connector housing 11 .

[0053] The connector 1 may have a third rack section and a fourth rack section and a third rotatable cam member and a fourth rotatable cam member, and the third rotatable cam member and the fourth rotatable cam member are arranged on relative outer surfaces, which are perpendicular to the outer surface on which the first rotatable cam member and the second rotatable cam member 30 are installed.

Claims

1. An electrical connector, comprising: Electrical terminals; a housing (11), wherein the electrical terminal is accommodated in the housing; as well as A mating assistance system, the mating assistance system is used to assist the electrical connector (1) to be mated with a mating electrical connector (2), the mating assistance system comprising: - a user-actuatable member (20) mounted longitudinally slidably on the housing (11) so as to slide along an operating direction (OD) between a rear position and a front position; - a first rack section (25) extending parallel to the operating direction (OD); - a first rotatable cam member (30), the first rotatable cam member comprising a cam groove (31) for receiving a first mounting pin (10) extending from a first side of the mating electrical connector (2), the first rotatable cam member (30) having a first gear section (33), the first gear section having teeth (34) engaging the first rack section (25), the engagement of the teeth (34) with the first rack section (25) causing the first rotatable cam member (30) to rotate in a first rotational direction when the user-actuatable member (20) is actuated from the rear position to the front position, It is characterized in that The matching auxiliary system also includes: - a second rack section (26), which extends parallel to the first rack section (25); a second rotatable cam member (30) comprising a cam slot (31) for receiving a second mounting pin (10) extending from a second side of the mating electrical connector (2), the second side being opposite to the first side of the mating electrical connector (2), the ... A second gear section (33) is provided, wherein the second gear section has teeth (34) engaging the second rack section (26), wherein the engagement of the teeth (34) of the second gear section (33) with the second rack section (26) causes the second rotatable cam member (30) to rotate in a second rotational direction when the user-actuable member (20) is actuated from the rear position to the front position, and when the first rotatable cam member (30) and the second rotatable cam member (30) are observed from the same side of the electrical connector (1), the first rotational direction is opposite to the second rotational direction.

2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: The corresponding cam grooves (31) of the first rotatable cam member (30) and the second rotatable cam member (30) have the same cam raceway, and wherein the first rotatable cam member (30) and the second rotatable cam member (30) rotate around the same axis (13).

3. The electrical connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The user-actuatable member (20) comprises the first rack section (25) and the second rack section (26), and the first rotatable cam member (30) and the second rotatable cam member (30) are rotatably mounted to the housing (11).

4. The electrical connector according to claim 3, wherein: The user-actuable member (20) has four walls (21, 22, 23, 24), which extend generally in a plane parallel to a longitudinal center axis (CA) and define a generally rectangular cross-section, and the first rack section (25) and the second rack section (26) are respectively located on the inner surface of the user-actuable member (20) and are arranged generally symmetrically about the longitudinal center axis (CA).

5. An electrical connector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The first rotatable cam member (30) and the second rotatable cam member (30) are identical.

6. An electrical connector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The housing (11) has four outer surfaces (12), which extend generally in planes parallel to the longitudinal center axis (CA) and define a generally rectangular cross-section, and the first rotatable cam member (30) and the second rotatable cam member (30) are respectively mounted on opposite outer surfaces (12).

7. The electrical connector according to claim 6, wherein: The first rotatable cam member (30) and the second rotatable cam member (30) are respectively mounted on opposite outer surfaces (12) of the four outer surfaces (12) perpendicular to a line connecting two terminals.

8. An electrical connector according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a locking device (40) which is slidably mounted between an unlocked position and a locked position along a locking direction parallel to the operating direction (OD), wherein: The locking means (40) engages at least one of the first rotatable cam member (30) and the second rotatable cam member (30) when the user-actuatable member (20) is in its forward position.

9. An electrical connector assembly, comprising an electrical connector (1) and a mating connector (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first mounting pin (10) and the second mounting pin (10) are respectively arranged on opposite outer surfaces of a housing (3) of the mating connector.

10. An electrical connector assembly, wherein: The first mounting pin (10) and the second mounting pin (10) protrude in opposite directions along the same axis (PD).

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